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"It didn't matter if they knew him for five minutes or five years - he just had something about him which made an impression on them.

"He was just that kind of child.

"He never ever felt badly about anyone, even people who had hurt him."

A child slave in her early teens Kerri became an advocate for abused foster children and successfully campaigned for a national apology to the mothers and children of what became known as "the other stolen generation," non-Aboriginal children who were also stolen from their parents by government agencies which practised forced adoptions.

Ms Saint said she was deeply grateful for the support she has received from her fellow-victims of forced adoption, who have rallied to support her through the worst of times.

"I'm getting such a lot of support from my adoptee friends.

"I can't believe the people who've come out to offer their help and prayers.

"It's been lovely to hear from them.

"They all said I'd helped so many people and they wanted to help me in some way," she said.

"He had permanent pain in his back and leg and may have given the skateboard away."

EARLIER: Imbil police have confirmed that it was a "freak accident" at a friend's house that claimed the life of a local teenager over the weekend.

Senior Constable Bill Greer said he was not prepared to go into the details of the tragic death of the well known 17-year-old boy who had grown up in Imbil and attended the Mary Valley primary school and college until part-way through Year 10.

Other reports have indicated the young man was "accidentally strangled" by an article of clothing he had been wearing when he fell over.

Snr Const Greer said he had been liaising with the Mary Valley College since the tragedy occurred on Saturday, and the school principal was ensuring counselling was offered to students who had known the young victim of the tragedy.

The boy is believed to have been attending Gympie State High School since part way through Year 10, and had recently undertaken a TAFE course as well.

The accident occurred at a friend's house at Kenilworth. Police have prepared a report for the Coroner and say there are no suspicious circumstances.

Our thoughts are with his devastated family.

Contributed

EARLIER:

QUEENSLAND Police have this morning confirmed they were called to a home in the Mary Valley on the weekend after a teenage boy was found dead.

"We attended a residence on Bluff Rd at Kenilworth after a 17-year-old man was located deceased," a Queensland Police Service Media spokesman said.

Police have prepared a report for the Coroner. There are no suspicious circumstances.